More about Clovers Last night’s post sure generated a lot of discussion. To those of you who maintain that your horses are fine on clover – especially red clover, we wish you the best of luck. I would just like to say that I don’t put these posts up without good reason. ‘Walk a mile in my shoes’ and I think some people would change their tune. For instance here is what happened to someone who thought he and his horse were ‘bullet-proof’ on what we would say was unsuitable horse pasture which being dairy pasture was full of clover. The horse had been living on that pasture for years without a problem he had scoffed. Well one day ‘out of the blue’, this horse exploded into the most violent bucking fit – more violent than a rodeo horse. The guy could ride, so didn’t come off but when the horse finally stopped and was standing there splay legged and shaking, he found he could NOT get off. His injuries included a fractured pelvis, and it took him a couple of years to recover. This story, from Southland is one of several similar stories we could tell from all around NZ. Here is what happened to another lady recently after her horse had been grazing clover pasture - ‘Hi just to let you know Ive just brought my gelding off the clover. Every single problem you have related on your page is my gelding apart from the head shaking. I almost got out from under a bus two weeks ago when he bolted on a main road………’ It is certainly the grass!!! Without a doubt I am convinced. When I bought him exactly two years ago he had just turned four. Only broken three weeks and I was taking him out on the roads in gale force winds and everything. He wasnt bothered at all, I threw everything at him to desensitize him and people couldnt believe how good he was. During that summer a year later (5years old) he became head shy, never wanted me to touch his poll wouldnt stand for the farrier, pulled back when tied up causing him to have an accident where he landed on his stable door( which I had pinned open next to his tie up ring) and impaled himself currying the whole of his chest wide open! He became stallion like in the field, didnt like being brushed, didnt like the saddle being put on, started running out at jumps. Wouldnt load in the trailer, and very streaky when other horses are going out the yard. Throughout the time I have had him he on four separate occasions he has run off with me. Normally because something startled him, the first time was out hacking and a ‘bird scarer’ went off, my horse cantered off (very fast) but I manage to pull him up. I thought it was just young age. A few months later I was cantering along a stubble field in the country and a car came past, it startled him and he ran off on me again, this time more of a gallop luckily I managed to pull him up but he was all for going and not stopping! Then I was riding him in the paddock and the other horses got startled by something and cantered off in a herd, my horse caught them out the corner of his eye bolted towards them in a blind panic and I ended up being launched through a fence and landed in a ditch. Then about three weeks ago we were on again road ( Ive had him on them loads with buses and vans etc never any problems) a huge wagon came from behind us. My horse bolted again and I very nearly ended up underneath a bus coming towards us! It scared me to death and now I have got to the point were I wont hack him out and I dont want to end up dead or anyone else end up dead! I had to do a one rein stop. By the way all this time he is living out on the field full of clover!!!! (Hadnt thought about grass affected again) tried to ride him again and he just wasnt right at all, his back was still sore his muscles were rock hard and he was very grumpy (normally a very kind, willing horse) After reading your page again Im convinced its the clover! I have had him off the field for five days now and only been turning him out for an hour in a sand paddock when nobody is riding. Yesterday he let me touch all around his head and poll! No pulling back and lifting his head like a 30ft giraffe. I also then felt down his back.... Nothing! Didnt even Flinch. I will leave him in until tomorrow and then when friends are about I plan to ride him again. He stresses in his stable but I know he will soon calm down he always does for the first four days. Then goes as quiet as a lamb. After reading your page again literally nearly everything that can show signs applies to my horse! Normally he is a very kind honest little horse who always tried his best https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/ya/r/XVs6rhX0HCD.png We see and hear of cases like this on a daily basis. If your horses are fine on clover, that’s great but please be aware we believe, from extensive experience this is one of the major causes of serious accidents to do with horse and riders. The advice given may well save your life. Our goal is to keep riders and their horses safe PICS: Ben had become so aggressive, he was waiting to be picked up by the dog tucker man when we were notified about his plight. His paddock was full of red clover. We brought him home and changed his diet and within days he was back to his delightful true self. He still lives happily in our herd. Pic of the paddock Ben came from and calm happy, healthy Ben now (note the difference in the grazing!) - you can read more about him here... calmhealthyhorses/ourhorse/ben.html
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 08:33:42 +0000
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